If the New Jersey Devils wish to again consider themselves a serious playoff contender this season Justin Braun Jersey Kids , there is no better test early on than to skate against the defending Stanley Cup champions.That is precisely what the Devils (1-0-0) will do Thursday night when they play their home opener at Prudential Center against the Washington Capitals (2-0-1).The Devils earned their first playoff berth in six seasons a year ago, finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference, before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. They started 2018-19 on the right foot last Saturday, skating to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers as part of the NHL’s Global Series in Gothenburg, Sweden.Article continues below ...“I think we grew as a team, really got that brotherhood together, going all over Europe, it really brought everyone closer together,” Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid said of the team’s week-long trip to Switzerland and Sweden. “And I think it showed out there. All the hard work really added up.”Veteran forwards Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac both scored twice in the win, while Miles Wood added a pair of assists and Kinkaid stopped 17 of 19 shots.Now, after some long travel home, one practice and a couple days off, the Devils host a division rival that won hockey’s ultimate prize last spring.“You have your home opener Youth Kevin Labanc Jersey , against the defending Stanley Cup champs, so we’re expecting our guys to be ready to go, our fans and building to be excited,” said Devils coach John Hynes.Kinkaid, who won a career-high 26 games last season while filling in for injured No. 1 goalie Cory Schneider, will start against the Capitals. Schneider remains sidelined following offseason hip surgery and is getting closer to a return to action.With Washington playing on back-to-back nights, 26-year-old backup Pheonix Copley will make his Capitals debut between the pipes Thursday. It will be only his second career NHL game — and third appearance overall.In his only other NHL start, Copley allowed five goals on 29 shots for the St. Louis Blues in a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 21, 2017. Last year with Hershey in the AHL, Copley was 15-17-6 with a 2.91 GAA and .896 save percentage.“My mindset is to get better every game, give the team a chance to win every time they give me an opportunity to play,” Copley told the team’s web site.The Capitals are coming off a 5-2 home-ice victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in a Stanley Cup rematch Wednesday night. Washington already has 18 goals through the season’s first three games.Alex Ovechkin scored a pair against the Golden Knights, giving him four goals on the season. His 611 career goals move Ovechkin past Bobby Hull for 17th place on the NHL’s all-time list.Ovechkin’s teammate T.J. Oshie also netted his fourth goal; and both players have scored goals in all three games http://www.sanjosesharksteamshop.com/authentic-logan-couture-jersey , so far.The No. 1 Caps star on Wednesday, though, was Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had four points with a goal and three assists.“He’s my favorite player to watch play in the NHL,” Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom told NBCSN. “He’s just dancing out there.”The Devils beat the Capitals only once at the Prudential Center the past four seasons; and last year Washington won three of four games overall with New Jersey’s only win being an overtime victory on home ice. CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel each scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins pounded the Calgary Flames 9-1 on Thursday night.Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Jack Johnson, Jake Guentzel and Matt Cullen also scored, and Matt Murray made 38 saves to help the Penguins improve to 5-1-2 overall and 3-0 on a four-game Canadian trip.Crosby has scored three times in his last two games after going six without a goal to start this season. Evgeni Malkin had a pair of assists to extend his point streaks to six straight games.James Neal spoiled Murray’s shutout bid late in the third period.Flames starter Mike Smith was pulled for David Rittich midway through the second period after allowing six goals on 21 shots. Rittich turned away 12 of 15 shots.BRUINS 3, FLYERS 2BOSTON (AP) — Zdeno Chara scored twice, Jaroslav Halak stopped 26 shots in Boston’s victory over Philadelphia.Halak had his second shutout and 44th of his career.Jake DeBrusk also scored to help the Bruins improve to 6-0-2 in their last eight against Philadelphia and 9-0-1 in the last 10 meetings in Boston. The Bruins improved to 4-0 at home, where they last played Oct. 13 in an 8-2 rout of the Detroit Red Wings.PREDATORS 4 Martin Jones Jersey , DEVILS 3, OTNEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Kyle Turris made a length of the ice rush and snapped a shot past Keith Kinkaid 3:35 into overtime to lift Nashville past New Jersey.Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg and Yannick Weber also scored for the Predators, and Jusse Saros made 33 saves to help send the Devils to their third straight loss.Nico Hischier scored twice, and Damon Severson added a goal for the Devils.BLACKHAWKS 4, RANGERS 1CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Schmaltz set up Alexandre Fortin’s tiebreaking goal in the second period in Chicago’s victory over New York.Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Alex DeBrincat also scored to help Chicago win for the third time in four games, Corey Crawford made 18 saves in his fourth game after suffering a concussion last year.New York lost for the third time in four games. Pavel Buchnevich scored in the opener of a four-game trip, and Henrik Lundqvist made 33 stops.OILERS 4, CAPITALS 1EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Rookie Evan Bouchard scored his first goal, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist and Edmonton beat Washington.Alex Chiasson and Connor McDavid also scored Womens Melker Karlsson Jersey , and Cam Talbot made 31 saves. Andre Burakovsky scored and Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots for the Capitals.BLUE JACKETS 7, BLUES 4ST. LOUIS (AP) — Boone Jenner and Anthony Duclair each scored twice and Columbus overcame a two-goal deficit to beat St. Louis.Josh Anderson had a goal and an assist, David Savard and Seth Jones also scored, and Joonas Korpisalo made 33 saves to help Columbus snap a two-game losing streak. Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Alexander Steen and Zach Sanford scored for the Blues.SABRES 4, CANADIENS 3BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Okposo scored on a power play with 1:01 left in the third period in Buffalo’s comeback victory over Montreal.Sam Reinhart also had a goal in the third period, Jason Pominville scored twice and Jeff Skinner had three assists. The Sabres have won three straight to improve to 6-4-0 — their best start after 10 games since the 2011-12 season. Carter Hutton stopped 19 shots.Max Domi scored twice, and Joel Armia added a goal for Montreal.WILD 4, KINGS 1ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Eric Fehr and Jonas Brodin scored their first goals of the season to help Minnesota send Los Angeles to its sixth straight loss.Devan Dubnyk stopped 23 shots and had an assist for the Wild, winners of four straight. Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu added empty-net goals. Kyle Clifford scored for for Los Angeles.STARS 5 Adidas John Moore Jersey , DUCKS 2DALLAS (AP) — Jason Dickinson had two goals and an assist in his first multipoint game, and Ben Bishop made 23 in Dallas’ victory over Anaheim.Roman Polak, rookie Miro Heiskanen and Mattias Janmark also scored. The Stars have won two straight and are 5-2 at home. Ryan Getzlaf had two goals for Anaheim. The Ducks have lost four straight.COYOTES 4, CANUCKS 1GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Keller broke a tie early in the third period and Arizona beat for its first home victory of the season,Brad Richardson, Alex Goligoski and Lawson Crouse also scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves. Darren Archibald scored for Vancouver.